Is it too cold for a hen to hatch out eggs

[cocopop]

Thanks for the advise you make a good point. She is with a rooster (soon to be father) and another hen that she grew up with. Will it be OK to raise them together with mom and chicks?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

That will work fine. The hen will protect the chicks and they'll accept them (except under unusual circumstances).

Just make sure you switch everyone to a grower feed. The chicks, broody and rooster don't need and shouldn't have layer feed.

 

[cocopop]

Good point about the food. So they all eat chick starter? Chick starter won't hurt the adult birds?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Non-medicated starter won't hurt them.
Medicated feed has a thiamine blocker to prevent coccidiosis and shouldn't be used.
Many feed stores will carry both med and non-med starter as well as grower, finisher and layer feed. I've known stores that only carry medicated starter and layer. In that case, try to find another store or ask if they'll order something else.
Other than subtle differences in the nutrient balance, the primary differences in the above feeds are calcium and protein levels.
Starter and grower have higher protein to support growth of young birds. Finisher has lower protein (about 15%) for birds that have nearly reached adult size. Starter, grower and finisher all have about 1% calcium which is all that is needed for birds not producing egg shells every day.
For pullets and hens in production, a layer feed contains approximately 4% calcium, much higher than should be consumed by birds not building egg shells that contain 1.7 grams of calcium.

 

[cocopop]

What would medicated started do to the chicks and adult chickens? Isn't it a good thing to prevent coccidiosis? Is it too late to switch if I am already feeding medicated starter?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It is a good thing to prevent coccidia damage but the same can be done by keeping the bedding bone dry and feeders full.
There are supposed to be no side effects of amprolium but as it is a thiamine blocker and a drug I figure why give it if you can avoid it. If you already have some medicated then by all means use it till it's gone.

 

[cocopop]

Thanks for the advise